Life can be complicated, and the law doubly so. It’s not a shock, then, that when life and the law overlap, it’s useful to have a lawyer around who can guide you in the right direction. It’s easy to know when you encounter these situations–sometimes. It’ll be pretty obvious (we hope) when you might need a criminal justice attorney, for example.

Is That Something You Need a Lawyer For?</h2?
But there are other instances–many of them–when you might stop and think: do I need a lawyer for that? I mean, do I really need a lawyer? Maybe, you think, I can just muddle through this on my own.

And, to be completely honest, that may or may not work out for you. Everyone’ situation is different, of course. The general rule of thumb, however, is that the more complicated your situation is, the more likely it is you’ll need an attorney for whatever you’re doing. The problem is in defining what “complicated” means, as that can be something of a moving target. So that’s why we’ll be looking at some common “do you need a lawyer for that?” moments and explain why yes, indeed, you might need an attorney.

Problems with the Landlord

Let’s pretend, for example, that you’re having problems with your landlord. Many people try to handle these problems by themselves, probably because, in some way, they take them personally. So if you don’t fix my water heater, I’m not going to pay my rent. It makes sense on an intuitive, personal level.

But that’s not always how the law works. That’s because, in most cases, you will have signed a lease, and that lease is a legally binding document that typically spells out how disputes are settled. In other words, there’s a proscribed means of settling disputes or arguments already in place and you already agreed to it when you moved in.

The legal aspect of your dispute is going to be very different than the personal aspect of your dispute. And settling between the two can be a challenge–that’s where an attorney would come in and represent your interests. This isn’t always possible (often for financial reasons), but it is ideal.

Getting Divorced (or Married)
When you break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, you don’t need a lawyer. But when you split up with a husband or wife, you will almost certainly need an attorney. That’s because, for everything else it is, marriage is also a legal institution. And with that legal institution comes a whole list of legal obligations.

That can make divorce complicated. Sure, you can probably print out a form you find online and muddle through. But having an attorney to guide you through the process could be a huge boon–difficult to underestimate.

One other note of caution on this: divorce can often become a kind of cold war where there’s a balance of power. If your ex-spouse hires a lawyer, it’s definitely in your interest to do the same. So, it might be something to discuss, if you can, beforehand. That said, you can sometimes simplify your divorce by going through certain legal processes before or as you get married. It’s not always the most romantic thing to do, but it is something that some couples elect to do.

Setting up Child Support Obligations
In the event that your marriage or relationship does end and you have children, things can get complicated. You might again think that you can just muddle through, come up with your own arrangements and so on. This is not a great way to go about things.

That’s because the states and counties are often involved with upholding child support payments. In other words, if you fail to pay child support in accordance with the laws of the county, you will still owe that money. So even if you’ve provided thousands of dollars for your child’s upbringing, it may not count.

In other words, these obligations can be confusing and counter-intuitive. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a lawyer on your side.

It’s Not Always Possible
It’s true that hiring a lawyer isn’t possible for everyone. Cost is a very real hurdle for many people–that’s because lawyers aren’t exactly cheap. Even still, it’s hopefully become clear how, when you need one, they can be awfully handy. And, for many, they can easily be worth the cost involved.

Finding a lawyer isn’t exactly easy, either. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your situation, it might be because the legal aspects of that situation are escaping you. That’s okay. That’s why people hire a lawyer in the first place. So when you ask that question, do you need a lawyer for that? The answer just might be yes.